Villa boss Martin O’Neill has promised he will do the FA Cup justice as his side try to avoid a giant-killing at Doncaster.

With a number of Premier League clubs looking to field weakened teams, O’Neill will send out a strong side at the Keepmoat Stadium as he looks to address a 52-year gap in their history.

The manager is aware it is that long since Villa won the FA Cup, a fact he was reminded of this week following the death of Johnny Dixon, who skippered the side in the 1957 final triumph over Manchester United.

The former Celtic boss is aware that Doncaster will test his side, after watching them overcome Cheltenham in a third-round replay in midweek.

He said: “It is a competition we want to progress in. I have never won it and it does mean a lot to me, the players and all the fans who will be travelling up the motorway to Doncaster.

“It is a long time since we won the cup. That is a fact, but we can’t be thinking of things like that because we face a difficult game.

“Doncaster are a fine footballing side and were well worth their win over Cheltenham. It is going to be tough for us and they will fancy their chances after beating Villa two or three years ago in the League Cup.

“But I am sure our players will be prepared for what lies ahead.  They realised that we would have a tough game at Gillingham in the last round and that proved to be correct.

“It will be the same this time.”

O’Neill will be without star winger Ashley Young, suspended following his straight red card in the 2-1 success at Sunderland last weekend.

The Villa boss has spoken to the player about his rash challenge on Dean Whitehead, but now wants to draw a line under the incident.

The manager said: “It was totally unlike Ashley. It is disappointing we will be without him for three games. It has happened and I can’t hold it against him for the rest of his life.”

Defender Luke Young will also be banned for today’s tie after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season at the Stadium of Light. John Carew and Wilfred Bouma are still not ready to return after back and ankle setbacks respectively.

O’Neill is hoping to fix up a behind-closed-doors friendly next week to give the pair much-needed match practice, in the hope they will be able to return for the final third of the campaign.

Carew has been sidelined for two months, which has meant Gabriel Agbonlahor often being used as the sole striker. Bouma dislocated an ankle in an Intertoto Cup game against Odense in July.